John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer Montario Hardesty will make his first game appearance for the Browns tonight.

There will be someone different to watch in the Browns backfield tonight. That's what Browns fullback Lawrence Vickers tells Ohio.com's Nate Ulrich about rookie running back Montario Hardesty.

''Absolutely,'' Vickers said. ''I mean he works hard, he runs hard, he's got good eyes. He's fast, a big back, he's good in protection and he's smart. He knows his stuff. All that put together, plus he wants to go out there and [play] ball. He has a winning attitude. You can do a lot with a person that wants to win and wants to get better. So I'm excited to see all that.''

Hardesty will get his chance to display his skills tonight in the preseason finale against the Chicago Bears at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Hardesty is playing for the first time due to a knee injury. Hardesty sustained a bone bruise to his right knee when he twisted it on the final day of rookie training camp.

Injuries are not knew to Hardesty. Injuries took a toll on him in college. The most serious setback he endured was a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee, the same one he recently hurt.

''I'm really not even worried about the knee or anything like that,'' said Hardesty, who returned to practice last week after being sidelined for most of August. ''I've been running around, and I've had a little contact here and there.''

Before missing time, Hardesty was expected to compete with Jerome Harrison to become the Browns' featured running back, writes Ulrich.

Now Hardesty has something to prove, and it starts tonight.

''I'm a fan of Montario,'' Jerome Harrison said. ''He was good in college, and we trained in the offseason together for a little bit. He's a great young man, a great athlete and I'm excited for him to be back out here.''

Hillis has taken advantage of his opportunities. Acquired this offseason from the Denver Broncos in the Brady Quinn trade, Hillis leads the Browns in rushing this preseason with 80 yards and a touchdown. He's also showed nice hands with nine receptions for 86 yards and is impressing Cleveland's coaching staff with his versatility.

The Browns are implementing ways to use Hillis, but should his role be expanded as their starter? It may depend on his competition's progress.

Walker writes that Harrison, who led Cleveland with 862 rushing yards last year, is the incumbent but looks listless so far.

He's averaging just 3.1 yards per carry in three exhibition games. In addition, Harrison's three fumbles the past two games are concerning. The Browns cannot afford to have their primary rusher displaying poor ball security.

Decision Day

General Manager Tom Heckert will get a final chance tonight to make a decision on cutting the roster from 75 to 53 by 6 p.m. Saturday.

Some players are safe, and some are on the bubble. Reporter Josh Weir of CantonRep.com writes which players have nothing to worry about, and which players need to wave Cleveland goodbye.

Quarterback

Safe Jake Delhomme, Seneca Wallace, Colt McCoy.

Odd man out Brett Ratliff is likely headed for the practice squad. Yes, he is eligible.

Outside linebackers

Safe Matt Roth, Scott Fujita, Marcus Benard.

Sweating it out David Bowens, Jason Trusnik.

Bowens played well late last year but is 33 years old with a balky knee.

Inside linebackers

Safe Chris Gocong, Eric Barton, D’Qwell Jackson, David Veikune.

Sweating it out Kaluka Maiava, Blake Costanzo.

Veikune played little as a rookie round 2 pick but quietly had a strong camp. Maiava probably will stick. Another spot could come down to whether Trusnik has become as good a special teams player as Costanzo.

The league announced Rogers would forfeit one game check for his April 1 arrest at Cleveland Hopkins airport, which he is appealing. Ridenour writes that Rogers has been placed in a diversion program, which includes community service and a gun class, and can have the felony charge dismissed upon completion.

A possible suspension for arguably their best defensive player had hung over the Browns the entire off-season, especially since their first two games against Tampa Bay and Kansas City seem winnable.

Defensive end Robaire Smith, arrested at the Flint, Mich. airport last November, likely expects to receive the same penalty from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, although the league is examining the two incidents separately.

On the bubble

Not knowing if you will remain on the team after Saturday's cuts isn't just a concern for rookies. Veteran players also have to worry.

"A lot of things going on right now make me unsure of my position. The one thing I will do is play my tail off on Thursday and we'll see what happens."

Bowens, 33, missed the early part of training camp and the first two preseason games with an injured left knee. That doesn't help.

Schudel writes how in Bowens' first preseason game last Saturday in Detroit, he didn't look good. On one play, Bowens looked old.

"I've been called old ever since I started getting gray hair, but I tell them it's just hair. We'll see when I go out there on Thursday. I haven't had to (win a job in the final preseason game) since 2001, but sometimes you have to prove yourself to people, and that's the approach I take. Eric isn't the boss anymore. Decisions fall on new people. I don't have a problem with that. I have confidence in my ability."

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